An increase in distance is expected to help promising two-year-old Doctor Jack give veteran trainer Harold Norman a sentimental win at the Gold Coast.
Queensland has been split into regions in an effort to combat the coronavirus with metropolitan-standard racing divided between the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
Gold Coast city meetings are usually held on Fridays but because of Good Friday this week’s program is on Thursday.
Doctor Jack was a fast-finishing second to smart Xerri at his first start at Doomben in a 1200m race two weeks ago.
The colt steps up to 1300m in the Aquis Two-Year-Old at the Gold Coast.
“He got back near last at his first start but really got home strongly. I have always thought he would be best at longer than 1200m,” Norman said.
Doctor Jack, who cost $50,000 at the Magic Millions sales, is a son of former top sprinter Star Witness but like many of the breed is showing potential over further than pure sprinting trips.
The colt is named after one of Norman’s late owners in Dr Jack Woolridge who was a long-time supporter of the Gold Coast based stable.
Wooldridge had many smart horses with Norman including Count Scenario won the 1999 Grafton Cup and was a close second to top kiwi stayer Cronus in that year’s Prime Ministers Cup.
Another of their top horses was Kugelhopf won the 2003 Toowoomba Cup and Queensland Cup.
When Dr Wooldridge died several years ago, his wife Sue decided to let Norman use the family’s green and orange striped colours
Norman in turn allows his friend Peter Wigham to use the colours and they have also also had plenty of success, most recently with six-time winner Shauquin.
